2006 has been the year of truth for the recent Reform of this organization.
The UNECE embarked on a major remodelling of its governance structure and
a significant redefinition of its priorities in 2005. This essential restructuring
had to be implemented in 2006. And so it was done.
The Reform and its implementation have intensified collaboration between
member States and the UNECE secretariat. All thematic committees – which
actually constitute the heart of the organization – had to cope with
a re-evaluation of their work, an assessment of possible restructuring for
effectiveness and efficiency, and a rethinking of the schemes of implementation
of their programmes. This exercise increased the sense of consistency in the
organization and led the way to a coherent approach, one based on the guidelines
of the United Nations and matched to the needs and the specificities of the
region. UNECE has thus entered a new and reinforced phase of its mandate.
In this, my thanks go to all member States represented in the Commission,
the Executive Committee, and of course to all the representatives from the
line ministries in the thematic Committees.
I definitely also would like to extend my gratitude to the UNECE secretariat,
as the implementation of the Reform has depended enormously on the continued
efforts of Mr. Marek Belka and his team. They have worked very hard, in cooperation
with member States, at making the UNECE a relevant, up-to-date United Nations
agency that benefits all countries in the region.
Belgium has held the chairmanship of the Commission for the last two years.
The Reform is on course, the priorities are known, but the work is never finished.
The UNECE will have to continue to keep its finger on the pulse of the needs
of the region in order to contribute fully to this multilateral framework
for pan-European integration.
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Alex Van Meeuwen,
Ambassador,
Permanent Representative of Belgium
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